Already the current Welsh Champion in his class, Liam is on track to retain his trophy this year and finish in a good position in the British league where he is currently sitting in fourth place.

Keith Jones, Manager at Celtic Energy’s Onllwyn Coal Distribution Centre, said: “Liam’s dad Ian is a plant operator here at Onllwyn and has been keeping us informed about Liam’s great achievements.  We are pleased to be able to help out in any way we can to make sure he continues to represent Wales in the sport.  We wish Liam all the best in future competitions.”

Ian Owen explained that taking part in competitions all round the UK from Derbyshire to Yorkshire to the Isle of Wight is very expensive so the £200 donation will primarily help with travelling costs.  Next year Liam will also need to purchase a new bike as he moves up a class from an 80cc engine to a 125cc engine.

Appreciating the important role public consultation plays i the planning process, as well as advertising the exhibition events in the local press, Celtic Energy write directly to over 3,000 residents living in the communities nearby, inviting people to meet with the company face to face and discuss its plans for Selar North.

Beginning on 29 June, over 100 people attended the events held in Cwmgwrach, Glynneath and Rhigos, using the opportunity to speak with representatives from Celtic Energy about any issues or concerns they had regarding the extension.

Rob Thompson, Site Manager at Selar, comments: “It was great that people used these exhibition events as an opportunity to meet with us and discuss the proposals for Selar.  Based on feedback we have received so far, lorry movements and the road network seem to be key areas that we need to carefully consider when it comes to finalising the application.

It was also good to hear from many people that they already recognise the efforts we go to to mitigate the impact of our activities - including the monitoring of dust, noise and vibration levels to ensure compliance with current guidelines and permissions.  I would like to assure everyone that we will continue to manage and monitor these effectively.”

Over the coming weeks Celtic energy has committed to providing individuals with a response to the specific questions they asked via feedback forms.  The team would encourage those who took the forms away after the events to complete and return them by 31 July in order that they can be considered prior to submission of the final planning application.

All the information on display at the exhibitions is now available to download from the Selar Consultation page on Celtic Energy’s website, www.coal.com.  An electronic feedback form is also available from the website for those who would prefer to respond via e-mail.

People can also make their views known via freephone 0845 618 0017, e-mail enquiries@coal.com or write to Celtic Energy Limited, 9 Beddau Way, Castlegate Business Park, Caerphilly, CF83 2AX.

In the coming months Celtic Energy will be progressing with the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) with a view to submitting the final planning application for the Selar North extension in the Autumn.

The route, known locally as the Tawe Uchaf Trail, is a traffic free path for walkers, Cyclists and people with disabilities.  The path was officially opened on Tuesday 16 June 2009.

Developed by Powys County Council, in partnership with mining company Celtic Energy Limited, the path is just over 4km in length and stretches from Penrhos to Coelbren in town.  Funding for the route has come from the Welsh Assembly Government’s Safer Routes in Communities Fund.

A long-term aspiration of the community, the route utilises a section of the disused railway line in the ownership of Celtic Energy.  The route can currently be accessed from Penrhos but the future aspiration of the community is that access will be available from other parts of the town.

Cllr Gwilym Evans, Board Member for Cycling and Road Safety, said: “We’re pleased that this route has been constructed to such high standards and local people are already out using the path on a regular basis.  It is an excellent local resource to promote physical activity and regeneration.”

Richard Walters, managing director of Celtic Energy, said the Government’s recent coal-fired power station announcement is a “vital step” in ensuring a continued supply of energy in the UK.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband last month announced plans for up to four new coal-fired power stations by 2020.

A trial plant, such as one which could be built at Kingsnorth, Kent, covering around a quarter of the output of a new coal-fired power station there, could cost between £750m and £1.5bn.

Mr Walters said “We are fortunate in this country as coal is abundant and there are significiant opportunities for CO2 storage offshore.

“What we need however is the support to mine it without unreasonable economic burden and planning barriers.

“By unlocking this source, the coal industry could see an unprecedented revival, with significant positive impacts on employment.

“The UK coal industry has an opportunity here to re-establish itself and emerge as a leader in sustainable coal production and to push to deliver high-tech carbon capture and storage jobs.

“The industry and politicians together can provide a model that can be applied worldwide.

“Here is Wales the mining industry is at the heart of the economy, employing hundres of people and supporting a range of associated industries.

“In the years to come it has the potential to become even more important as the nation seeks to overcome a potentially devastating energy gap, delivering the energy that businessess need.”

The purpose of the exercises is to stage accident scenarios on site so that the escape and rescue teams have practical experience of dealing with an emergency.  The teams consist of management personnel, site supervisors and first adiers.  Site supervisors halt the site operations and provide an elevating work platform, if required, for rescuing a person from a high level such as from a large excavator and provide other site plant to ensure that an ambulance can gain access to the scene of an accident without any unnecessary delay.

Celtic Energy has trained in excess of twenty first aiders so that there is adequate first aid cover for all the sites and the working shifts.  The first aiders are trained to an advanced level so that they are competent to use specialist first aid equipment.  Each site has a first aid room which contains the equipment; namely exygen therapy equipment, the pain killing gas and air mix known as entonox, a defibrillator and a spine board.

General Manager Philip Jarman, who is responsible for health and safety and training, is fully aware that some of the Celtic Energy sites are in remote locations which could delay the arrival of the emergency services.  He also explains that an injured person could be located on a large earthmoving machine up to two miles away from the site office.  He requires first aiders that can take care of an injured person; that are competent to administer first aid and if necessary able to rescue the person, if that person is in imminent danger.

Mr Jarman emphasises that the advanced first aid equipment has been made available for emergency purposes but to date such a situation has not arisen where this equipment has been required.

Meigwyn started his career in 1958, aged 15, at Rhiw Fawr opencast site in Upper Swansea Valley.  His father had warned him ‘not to go down the pits’ so he looked to opencast mining instead.  Meingwyn added; “opencast had been going a few years when I started but was relatively new and I’ve frown up with it and it has given me a good living.  I hope the work will go on for years as it means jobs for people and there is little else in the area”

The past half century has seen him work at more than 15 different sites for employers such as George Wimpey and Amec, but the last 6 years have been at Celtic Energy’s Nant Helen site.

Richard Davies, mine manager at Nant Helen, paid tribute “Meingwyn has been a valued and loyal member of Celtic Energy’s team for over 10 years.  He started out t our Selar site in Rhigos then moved to Nant Helen in 2002.  His experience and expertise in operating all kinds of plant and machinery at the mine will be difficult to replace.  On behalf of Celtic Energy and myself, I wish Meingwyn continued good helath and a long and happy retirement”.

Meingwyn is husband to Caryl, dad to Clair and granddad to five year old Rhys whom he is looking forward to spending a lot more time with now - that as well as a spot of sea fishing with friends.

The investment will be in East Pit (Gwaun Cae Gurwen), where the company has spent a total of £4 million in gearing up for production. This includes a £1.4 million spend alone on a new excavator and the introduction of a double shift in order to meet growing demand for Welsh coal. In total the number of jobs provided at the site will rise from 23 to 86, with 38 staff moving from other Celtic Energy sites. A major recruitment drive was launched to attract local people to fill the remaining positions.

With use of the new Hitachi EX1900-6 large hydraulic excavator which has a 12 m3 bucket and the double shift, it is estimated that East Pit will be able to produce approximately two million tonnes of coal in the next six to seven years, helping to address the UK’s growing energy gap with supplies of safe and secure fuel.

Wayne Evans, Site Manager at East Pit, comments: “We are due to be at full production capacity by the end of September at which point we will require around 86 people in total to work the site. In preparation, we have been undertaking a major recruitment drive which has resulted in 25 new jobs.”

“I am extremely proud to be working in an industry that is growing, providing more jobs for local people and investment in the local area. Many people said that coal mining in Wales would die, but we are able to provide new life for sites across South Wales, helping to provide secure energy supplies and prosperity.”

Richard Walters, Managing Director of Celtic Energy, added: “We are delighted that favourable market conditions now allow us to open up East Pit to full capacity. Before preliminary works began last year, the site had been dormant since 2001, but now we are playing our part in the revival of the coal industry in South Wales. With gas supplies becoming increasingly expensive and susceptible to disruption, coal has a vital role to play in ensuring that we can keep the lights on in years to come.”

Celtic Energy is committed to carrying out all its activities in a careful and considerate manner. At East Pit, every effort has been taken to ensure that any impacts on the environment or on local communities will be kept to an absolute minimum. This includes making sure 50% of coal is transported by rail in order to reduce traffic movements and disruption to the local community. Once work has been completed, the site will be sensitively restored to ensure that wildlife is able to flourish.

Celtic Energy Limited is the successor in South Wales to the former British Coal Corporation that was privatised by the Government in 1994 and was responsible for all of British Coal’s opencast mining activities in South Wales.

Paul Davies in training for his challenge

Paul Davies, Operations Manager at Celtic Energy’s coal washery and distribution centre in Onllwyn, scaled the three highest peaks in the UK within 24 hours in the Three Peaks Challenge, aiming to raise a total of £900 for The Meningitis Trust.

The Three Peaks Challenge involves climbing Ben Nevis in the Highlands (1344m), Scafell Pike in the Lake District (978m) and Mount Snowdon in North Wales (1344m) - that’s approximately 26 miles of rugged mountain terrain with 430 miles of driving in between.

As part of Celtic Energy’s commitment to supporting its staff, charities and good causes in the communities surrounding its sites, the company sponsored Paul £150 to complete this challenge for The Meningitis Trust.

Paul Davies, comments: “It is a tough challenge both mentally and physically to climb the three mountains in such quick succession. I managed to do it in 22 hours and 58 minutes and although my body was in pain, the feeling of exhilaration I got when it was complete made it all worth while.

“The fact that while doing something I enjoy like hiking, I can also raise money for charity is a great combination. The Meningitis Trust is a unique organisation which fights meningitis through creating awareness and providing support for those affected by the disease; it really does offer a life line.”

Richard Walters, Managing Director of Celtic Energy, added: “It is very important to us to support our staff and the local communities surrounding our sites in any way we can. We are very proud of Paul for completing such a challenging climb while raising money and awareness for The Meningitis Trust. Hopefully our sponsorship of £150 will go some way to helping the Trust carry on the great work that they do.”